Apparatus for administering anesthetics.



W. P. WALTER.

APPARATUS FOR ADMINISTEBING ANESTHETICS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l9. I915.

1,21 1,647 Patented Jan. 9, 1917,

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ment to a pair of gas cylinders (one WILL I. WALTER, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR ADMINISIERING ANESTI-IETICS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

Application filed June 19, 1915. Serial No. 34,980.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILL P. WALTER, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus for Administering Anesthetics; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for administeringanesthetics and analgesics and consists of the matters hereinafterdescribed and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is herein illustrated as applied to an apparatus of thekind disclosed in an application for patent filed by me on April 3d,1915 and bearing Serial Number 18,868. In general, the apparatusdisclosed therein comprises a head adapted for attachcontaining nitrousoxid and the other oxygen), said head. including washing tubes, oneassociated with each gas cylinder, an ether tube and a heater casing,and a vertically adjustable standard, by means of which said head may bebrought into proper relation with respect to the said gas cylinders.Conduits are provided connecting each gas cylinder with its associatedwashing tube, connecting each washing tube with the ether tube,

connecting each washing tube with the heater casing and connecting theether tube with heater casing. Shut-off valves are used in all conduitsexcepting those leading from the gas cylinders to their associatedwashing tubes, so that the gases may be caused to pass either directlyfrom the washing tubes to the heating chamber or from the Washing tubes,through the ether tube, to the heating chamber. Said valves require verystrict attention to see that when one path for the gas is open, theother is closed, and this is of particular annoyance when therequirement for changing the path occurs during an operation and whenether a is either to be added to or omitted from the anesthetic fluid. Afailure to close the one valve when the other is opened, may result inaccidents of serious consequence to either the operator Or to thepatient and the gravity of the possible results are increased by reasonof the nearness of the apparatus to both operator and patient.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the defects in andthe objections to the valve system previously mentioned and to providein place thereof a system of conduits and valves which will eliminatethe possibility of error and obviate the dangerous results and make theapparatus such that no matter how the attention of the operator may beabsorbed, no harmful results may occur by his hasty manipulation of anyof the valves.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus foradministering anesthetics and analgesics embodying my invention. Fig. 2is a View representing a vertical section through Fig. 1 in a planeindicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view representing on anenlarged scale a vertical section through a valve mechanism embodied inthe present invention, the plane of the section being indicated by line3 -3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a view representing a horizontal sectionthrough the valve illustrated in Fig. 3, the plane of the section beingindicated by line 1- 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of saidvalve.

Referring now to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2:-10indicates as a whole the head or yoke of the apparatus which is attachedto the necks of the gas cylinders 11 and 12, the one containing usuallynitrous oxid and the other oxygen. Said head is supported in the case ofthe apparatus described in the application hereinbefcre referred to byan adjustable standard, not shown in full but the upper ends of whichare indicated at 10 The head 10 comprises a rectangular frame 14, threemetallic caps 15,.16and 17, respectively, a casing 18, containing aheating chamber and the several conduit, or

pipe connections which will be more specifically referred to later.

The frame 1 1 is provided at its ends with rectangular openings 1 1 in,which are adapted to receive the squared necks 11 12 on the top of therespective gas cylinders, and suitable means are arranged to secure saidframe thereto.

The end caps 15 and 17 respectively provide support and closure for thetops of glass tubes or reservoirs 15, and 17, which contain a washingfluid, usually water, and

the intermediate cap 16 provides a support 5 and closure for a thirdglass tube or reservoir 16" in which is contained ether. As in theapparatus described in the before mentioned application for patent, allof said tubes or reservoirs are closed at their bottom ends in themanner of the familiar test tubes. Said tubes are detachably connectedto their respective caps.

Each cap (15 and 17) for the washing tubes has a passageway 20 extendingtransversely through it and opening at one end through the peripheraledge and at the other end through the bottom of the cap at its centerwhere it has a vertical metal tube 21 threaded into it. The end of thepassageway 20 opening through the peripheral edge of the cap hasthreaded into it a pipe 22, the other end of which is secured to theframe 14: and extends a short distance beyond and into one of therectangular openings at the end of said frame where it is adapted for agas tight connection within the discharge vent formed in the squaredneck of the gas cylindefor the passage of thegas. The neck of said gascylinder is held rigidly engaged with the end of each of the pipes 22 bymeans of a clamping screw 22, which is threaded through the back of theframe it in line with the pipe 22 so as to engage said neck opposite itsdischarge vent. Each cap 15 and 17 is provided with a second passageway23, 23, arranged, as shown, at right angles to the passageways 20. Saidpassageways 23 open at one end through the bottom of the cap and at theother end through the peripheral edge of the cap in line with adiametrically extending passageway 24 formed in the cap 16 of the ethertube. The passageway 24 opens at its ends through the edge. of the capand at a point intermediate its ends (preferably at the center of saidcap) through the bottom thereof where it has threaded into it anaspirator tube 25.

The cap 16 of the ether tube is provided with a passageway 26 whichextends, as shown, at right angles to the passageway 21. Said passageway26 opens at one end through the bottom of the cap 16 and at 55 itsopposite end through the peripheral edge of the cap where it hasthreaded into it a pipe 27 which leads to and is connected with theheater casing 18. The passageways 23 in the caps 15 and 17 respectivelyand the diametric passageway 24 in the cap 16 are connected by valvecasings 30 with apertured extensions 31, 31, threaded into saidpassageways.

Each valve casing 30 has a vertically tapered bore 32 (the outside ofsaid casing relation with the tapered bore of the valve casing andpermits the regulation of the tension on said plug so that a gastightoint may be had. In approximately the same horizontal plane as that ofthe aper tures in the extension 31 of the casing, there is provided ineach valve plug 33 a diametrically arranged port 39 and a second port 40arranged at an angle thereto. The port 4-0 is located to one side of butin the same plane as the port 39.

Each valve casing is provided with a tubular extension 11 arranged at anangle to the diametric line of the extension 31, 31 of said valvecasing. The extension a1 is provided with an aperture 42 in the sameplane as that of the apertures in the exten-' i sion 31 and saidaperture opens at one'end into the bore 32 in the valve casing and isenlarged at its opposite end to receive the threaded end of a conduit orpipe 43 which leads to and is connected with the heater casing 18. Unionfittings are preferably interposed in each conduit 13, 413 and 27leading to the heater casing for ease in assembling.

The upper end of the valve plug 33 is provided with suitable means forhand operation. As illustrated, a knurled disk is fixed to the top ofthe valve plug.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that by rotating either ofthe valve plugs 33, the ports 39 may be caused to register with theapertures in the tubular extensions 31 as is illustrated in Fig. 4. Inuse of the apparatus with the ports so registering, a free passage ofthe gases is provided for, from the gas cylinders to the ether tube,(the same having passed through the washing tubes), after which the saidgases may, after having absorbed or taken up enough vaporized ethertherein, passinto the heating chamber 18 through the conduit 27, fromwhich they will be delivered at the proper temperature to the breathingbag. (Not shown.) Should it be desired that no ether be mixed with thegas being adminis tered, the valve plugs 33, either or both, may berotated in a reverse direction and the port or ports 10 in the valveplugs 33 passageways 23 in the caps 15 and 17 re spectively and with theapertures 42 in the tubular extension 41 of each valve casing so thatthe gases after having passed through the washing tubes, will bedelivered respectively into the pipes 43 from which they will pass intothe heating chamber 18. The orifices of the ports 39 and 40 are sopositioned in the valve plug 33 that when said plug is rotated to bringone or the other of said ports into communication with the ports in thevalve casing, one of said valve plug ports, as for example, the port 39,will be in communication therewith before the other port (to) is out ofcommunication with said casing port and vice versa. This relativeposition of said port orifices is clearly illustrated by dotted line inFig. 4 and is advantageous in that pressure cannot build up in either ofthe washing tubes to produce a breakage of the same when its associatedvalve plug is rotated for the purpose before mentioned. From the heatingchamber the mixed and properly temperatured gases are conducted to thebreathing bag and are administered to the patient in the mannerdescribed in the application referred to.

The valve plug 33 is provided with a stop member, which as shown, is ascrew 51 depending through the radial fiange 45 at the top of the plugthat provides its handle part. Said screw projects below the flanged topof the plug and facing shoulders 50, one of which is so located thatwhen the screw 51 is engaged with it, the port 4:0 is in register withthe conduits associated with it, whereas when said screw is engagedagainst the other shoulder, the port 39 is in register with the conduitsthat it is associated with. Thus when the valve plug is moved as far asit can be in one direction, the washing tubes are connected with theether tube and at the same time automatically disconnected from thedirect connection with the heating chamber, being connected with saidheating chamber only through said ether tube and when said valve plug isengaged with the other stop shoulder, said washing tube is connecteddirectly with the heating chamber and disconnected from the ether tube.The danger of accidents is thus entirely eliminated and the apparatus ina measure is made'fool-proof in that it is impossible by lack ofattention or otherwise to connect the washing tubes to the heatingchamber by both of the associaed conduits and passages at the same time.

The advantages of my improvement will Copies of this patent may beobtained for coacts with oppositely is closed, and

be apparent to those familiar with the operation of an apparatus of thiskind, where in the attention of the operator is necessarily soconcentrated upon the patient and the effect of the anesthetic oranalgesic fluid upon the face of the patients physical condition andwhere the change of the mixture of fluid administered, if made at all,must be done quickly and with as little distraction of the attention ofthe operator as possible.

While in describing the invention, 1 have referred to certain details ofmechanical construction and arrangement, it is to be understood that theinvention is in no way limited thereto except as may be pointed out inthe appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In an apparatus of the kind described, a gascylinder, a washing tube, an ether tube, a heating and mixing chamber,means directly connecting said washing tube with said ether tube, saidmeans including a valve casing, means providing a by-pass connectingsaid valve easing with said heating chamber, and a valve provided withtwo ports, one port being adapted for connecting the washing tube withsaid by-pass, and the other port being adapted to connect the washingtube with the ether tube, said ports being constructed so that when oneis in register with its associated conduit, the other is closed.

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, a gas cylinder, a washingtube, an ether tube, a heating and mixing chamber, means directlyconnecting said washing tube with said either tube, said means includinga valve casing, means providing a by-pass connecting said valve casingwith said heating chamber, a valve provided with two ports, one portbeing adapted for connecting the washing tube with said bypass, and theother port being adapted to connect the washing tube with the ethertube, said ports being constructed so that when one is in register withits associated conduit the other stop means to limit the movement ofsaid valve in either of its two positions.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 affix mysignature in the presence of two witnesses, this 11th day of June A. D.1915.

WILL P. WALTER.

Witnesses:

T. H. Anrnnns, KARL N. DALL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D C.

